A Mexican immigrant was found not guilty of killing a woman at a San Francisco pier two years ago by a jury Thursday.

A Mexican immigrant was found not guilty of killing a woman at a San Francisco pier two years ago on Thursday.

Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, who had been deported five times from the U.S., was accused of fatally shooting 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle in the back while walking with her father on the pier on July 1, 2015.

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Though a jury acquitted him of her murder, Garcia Zarate was found guilty of possessing a firearm. He could face up to 16 months to three years in jail for the gun charge, according to California state law.

Steinle's family said they were shocked and saddened by the jury's decision.

"We're just shocked — saddened and shocked. That's about it," Jim Steinle told the San Francisco Chronicle. "There's no other way you can coin it. Justice was rendered, but it was not served."

Garcia Zarate didn't deny the shooting and said it was an accident.

Jose Ines Garcia Zarate (r.) was found not guilty in the killing of Kathryn Steinle. (Michael Macor/AP)

The shooting happened during the presidential campaign, which set off a national immigration debate and prompted President Trump to trumpet harsh immigration policies.

"A disgraceful verdict in the Kate Steinle case! No wonder the people of our Country are so angry with Illegal Immigration," Trump tweeted Thursday night.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Tom Homan slammed San Francisco, saying the tragedy could have prevented if the city had complied with the agency's request to turn Garcia Zarate in.

"It is unconsciounable that politicians across this country continue to endanger the lives of Americans with sanctuary policies...Following the conclusion of this case, ICE will work to take custody of Mr. Garcia Zarate and ultimately remove him from the country," Homan said in a statement.

Garcia Zarate's defense attorneys argued he was homeless man who accidentally shot Steinle, but prosecutors said it was intentional.

Kathryn Steinle, 32, was killed in San Francisco in July 2015. (kate steinle via facebook)

Defense attorney Francisco Ugarte said Steinle's murder case was used "to foment hate" and "to catapult a presidency along that philosophy of hate of others."

Before Steinle's death, Garcia Zarate served a federal prison sentence for illegally re-entering the U.S. and was transferred to a San Francisco jail to face a two-decade-old drug charge.

The verdict sparked intense reactions from staunch conservatives including Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

"When jurisdictions choose to return criminal aliens to the streets rather than turning them over to federal immigration authorities, they put the public's safety at risk," Sessions said in a statement. "San Francisco's decision to protect criminal aliens led to the preventable and heartbreaking death of Kate Steinle."

Donald Trump Jr. weighed in, writing, "What a disgrace. Don't let the rest of the country become California. If this isn't a wake call up to reasonable and law abiding people I don't know what is."

"Such an insane recent news cycle, and now this?? Outrageous "not guilty" verdict in murder case of Kate Steinle," former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin tweeted. "The illegal alien who shot her was just given more rights, grace and favor than the devastated Steinle family. San Francisco is NOT a safe place."

"Jury convinced that illegal alien killed Kate Steinle accidentally," conservative commentator Ann Coulter tweeted. "She would still be alive if we had a wall."

"I am disappointed and angry at the not guilty verdict for Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, an illegal alien who had several felony convictions & was deported from the US five times," Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tweeted. "Justice must be served for Kate Steinle."